{"id":24070,"date":"2012-02-17T18:06:36","date_gmt":"2012-02-18T01:06:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=24070"},"modified":"2021-02-02T18:30:53","modified_gmt":"2021-02-03T01:30:53","slug":"blood-on-satans-claw-the-1971","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=24070","title":{"rendered":"Blood on Satan&#8217;s Claw, The (1971)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I must confess, sir: I fear there&#8217;s something very strange afoot.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Poster-195x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-24071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Poster-195x300.jpg 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a plowman (Barry Andrews) in 17th century rural England uncovers a strange corpse in a field, a group of teens &#8212; led by beautiful temptress Angel Blake (Linda Hayden) &#8212; become obsessed by satanic forces, prompting the arrival of a judge (Patrick Wymark) well-versed in witchcraft.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Horror<\/li>\n<li>Satanism<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis atmospheric British horror film (co-written and directed by <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Piers_Haggard\">Piers Haggard<\/a>) is strongly evocative of both <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44573\"><em>The Witchfinder General<\/em> (1968)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=52668\"><em>The Wicker Man<\/em> (1973)<\/a> in its depiction of a rural village besieged by evil forces. Originally intended as a horror omnibus consisting of three separate stories, the narrative &#8212; while technically cohesive &#8212; feels patchy at times, with certain characters (such as a young couple whose romance dominates the storyline during the first 15 minutes) introduced and then never seen again, and a lack of any central protagonist to relate to. With that said, there&#8217;s definitely a palpable sense of sustained horror throughout: while we don&#8217;t quite understand why dark patches of fur are suddenly showing up on children&#8217;s body parts, the effect is undeniably chilling, given that it clearly causes them to turn mercilessly upon one another, in a form of demonically-driven, peer pressured bullying. Adding to the film&#8217;s overall atmospheric flavor are fine cinematography, a relentlessly creepy score, convincing performances, and excellent use of authentic countryside locales &#8212; all of which help to at least partially overcome the screenplay&#8217;s deficiencies. While it&#8217;s not entirely successful, it&#8217;s nonetheless easy to see this film&#8217;s cult appeal, thus making it worth a one-time look.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Linda Hayden as Angel Blake<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Hayden2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Hayden2-1024x573.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"358\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-24145\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Hayden2-1024x573.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Hayden2-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Hayden2-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Hayden2.png 1599w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Michele Dotrice as Margaret<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Dotrice.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Dotrice-1024x568.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"355\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-24144\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Dotrice-1024x568.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Dotrice-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Dotrice-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Dotrice.png 1599w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine use of authentic British countryside and period sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Period2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Period2-1024x569.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-24146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Period2-1024x569.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Period2-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Period2-300x166.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Period2.png 1595w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Cinematography-1024x570.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-24143\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Cinematography-1024x570.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Cinematography-128x71.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Cinematography-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/Blood-on-Satans-Claw-Cinematography.png 1597w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Marc Wilkinson&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look for its cult status. Listed as a Cult Movie in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0066849\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1971\/04\/15\/archives\/screen-rural-diabolism-satans-claw-opens-in-horror-double-bill.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/classic-horror.com\/reviews\/blood_on_satans_claw_1971\">Classic Horror Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.britishhorrorfilms.co.uk\/satansclaw.shtml\">British Horror Films Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/moria.co.nz\/horror\/blood-on-satans-claw-1971-satans-skin.htm\">Moria Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=670&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/69136\/the-blood-on-satans-claw#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I must confess, sir: I fear there&#8217;s something very strange afoot.&#8221; Synopsis: When a plowman (Barry Andrews) in 17th century rural England uncovers a strange corpse in a field, a group of teens &#8212; led by beautiful temptress Angel Blake (Linda Hayden) &#8212; become obsessed by satanic forces, prompting the arrival of a judge (Patrick Wymark) well-versed in witchcraft. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Historical Drama Horror Satanism Review: This atmospheric British horror film (co-written and directed by Piers Haggard)&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=24070\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24070"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68180,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24070\/revisions\/68180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}